Chapter 41

“…Somehow, I got used to it.”

“Good job with the driving practice!”

Until the day we went to the valley with Pretty Heart, I thoroughly practiced driving.

Of course, it’s not that my driving skills are lacking.

When I was a guy, I practiced driving hard, so unless it’s driving in Busan, I can handle most situations just fine.

However, the problem is that my height has decreased by over 30 cm now.

If the accelerator and brake are in their normal positions, it’s hard to press them properly.

So, instead of awkwardly adjusting, I just modified them… but even then, if I don’t get used to it, I might make mistakes.

And such mistakes could lead to death on the road, so I have no choice but to get thoroughly familiar with it.

I’m fine, but I can’t let Pretty Heart and her friends die, no matter what.

Anyway, right now, I’m waiting in front of Pretty Heart’s house.

After picking up Pretty Heart first, we’ll head to where her friends are gathering, following her directions, and pick them all up.

Then, we’ll head to a decent valley that’s not too crowded.

I heard about it from someone who’s a local of Pocheon, so the reliability is high.

“But, is it okay to leave Max behind?”

“It’s just a day trip, so it should be fine, right? I left food and water for a day, and if needed, I can open a [Gate] and come back… Plus, potty training is done!”

“You already finished potty training?”

“Ahem! Don’t underestimate me, but mascots can communicate with animals, you know!”

“Wow…”

If that’s the case, then there’s no need to worry.

Pretty Heart has come out, so I should open the door.

“Nari.”

“Ah, unnie~!”

“Come on, get in.”

“Okay~.”

“But how many people are coming?”

“Friends? Two, excluding me.”

“Then sit in the back. It’s better if three of you sit together, right?”

“Okay~!”

“Chubby. You come to the front and sit in the passenger seat.”

“Yep!”

It should be fine to have Chubby sit in the passenger seat.

It seems like she can make herself invisible to ordinary people, so it’s not a problem.

I never paid attention to it before, but now that I think about it, it’s quite amazing.

Is it an application of the Perception Distortion Effect?

“Where should we go?”

“Go this way. My friends are supposed to gather here.”

“Really? Got it.”

Is it near the bus stop…?

Well, that’s a good spot for location confirmation.

It’s a bit tricky to park there since buses are coming and going.

If there’s no space, we can quickly pick them up and leave, but it’s still a hassle…

I’ll stop for a moment a bit away from the bus stop, so let them know.

“Okay~.”

“Ah, and we’re heading to Pocheon. There’s a really delicious makguksu (buckwheat noodles) place on the way. Should we stop by?”

“Makguksu? …Yes! Let’s go!”

I heard it’s delicious, but the location is a bit weird, so I’m not sure if we can find it.

Why would they set up shop in such a place…?

But it’s a relief that it takes less than an hour to get to the mountains.

We’ll probably eat makguksu around 10 to 11, and arrive at the valley by 12… I guess.

“Oh, is that Nari’s friend?”

“Yes.”

“She looks like a delinquent.”

“She gets that a lot. But she’s in the top ranks academically, so no need to worry.”

“So, she just naturally looks sharp like that?”

“Yes… That’s why she complains to me a lot.”

Well, Pretty Heart’s friends wouldn’t be delinquents.

Plus, the school Pretty Heart attends is one where well-off kids go, so the delinquent ratio is quite low.

Since they’re from well-off families, they’re sensitive about maintaining dignity.

But for that, their hairstyles are quite ordinary.

One has a ponytail, the other has short hair…

Pretty Heart has really long hair, half-tied, with a slight wave at the ends.

She started maintaining her magical girl hairstyle at some point.

“Hello~!”

“Hello…?”

“Yeah, hello.”

Both of them definitely seem like good kids.

I can’t tell for sure since we just met, but the first impression is good.

“What are your names?”

“I’m Choi Jin-ju!”

“I’m Kang Na-ru! And you, unnie?”

“Me? …Jeong Da-bin.”

By the way, they’re quite lively.

Their energy levels are pretty high.

“But isn’t this a really expensive car?”

“Wow…”

“Nari said she wanted to go to the valley, so I got it.”

“Your execution power is amazing…”

“Look at the back… the preparation is insane…”

I prepared like her friends, but maybe it was a bit over the top?

They’re just exclaiming in awe at the fully equipped gear.

“Nari… how did you meet that unnie?”

“Huh? She’s my senior!”

“…Senior?”

“Ah… no, um…”

“…She’s probably talking about magical girl stuff. You know, the setting where magical girls hide their identities.”

“…Oh~, right, right.”

“…?”

“It’s nothing~.”

“It’s okay~ I’ll pretend I didn’t hear~.”

“Uh…? Okay…”

…She’s already been found out.

But with the Perception Distortion Effect, how did they figure out Pretty Heart is a magical girl?

“There’s a small fridge in the back. It’s running on a battery, and there’s ice cream inside, so help yourselves if you’re bored.”

“Wow~ Thank you~!”

“Thank you~.”

As soon as I mentioned the ice cream, they turned around to grab some.

Since it’s ice cream from the Magical Girl Store, they’ll definitely be surprised when they taste it.

“…It’s so delicious…”

“Where do they sell this?”

“It’s not for sale. There’s a crazy guy who makes ice cream privately.”

“I’m jealous~.”

“Real~.”

By the way, if they know Pretty Heart is a magical girl and figured out it’s about magical girls from one slip-up… they must think I’m a magical girl too.

But well, there’s no need to bring it up, and no reason to talk about it, so it’s better to just move on.

“Ah, and… we’ll stop by a makguksu place on the way. You’ll eat, right?”

“Makguksu?”

“Think of it as a dish similar to cold noodles. It’s recommended by a local acquaintance, so the taste is guaranteed.”

“Then let’s go~.”

“Me too~.”

It’s already decided, but getting such positive responses makes me feel good.

I happen to really like makguksu too.

“But unnie, how old are you?”

“…Twenty-four.”

“But why are you so short?”

“Don’t ask.”

“Guys, talking about height is rude!”

“Nari, aren’t you curious?”

“…I don’t need to know.”

“Ah, this is something you know~.”

“Real~ That’s why you’re reacting like this~.”

“I, I won’t tell! Absolutely not!”

…They’re completely different from those brats you see in stories.

Well… brats who appear in stories can’t be normal, right.

In reality, there are surprisingly many normal kids like these… I guess.

Anyway, chatting like this while driving, we’ve already arrived.

That aside, why did they set up shop in such a place?

Moreover, the exterior is completely modern, unlike the rural vibe with old paintings on the walls.

“…Is this it?”

“Really?”

“This is the place. The address my acquaintance mentioned led the navigation here… so, it must be right. It definitely says they sell makguksu.”

“Are you doubting unnie now?”

“Wow~ You’re completely smitten~.”

“Are you in love~?”

“Ah, no!”

“Just kidding, kidding~.”

“Nari’s reactions are always fun~.”

…I don’t know if all middle schoolers are like this these days, but can we just go in?

The owner said welcome, and standing at the door like this is just awkward, right?

“There aren’t many people here?”

“Yeah~.”

“It’s 10:30, so there aren’t many people. They said it gets crowded around 12. So, what will you have? Water? Bibim? You can also get a double portion.”

“I’ll have bibim~.”

“I’ll have water!”

“Hmm~… I’ll have both water and bibim. Double portion.”

“What about buckwheat dumplings?”

“…Three plates, please.”

“…Okay.”

So, two waters, one bibim, one double portion of water and bibim.

And buckwheat dumplings, one for me and Pretty Heart’s friends each, three plates for Pretty Heart… so six plates in total.

“Let’s eat~.”

“I’ll enjoy~.”

“Wow… ah, let’s eat~!”

After waiting about 10 minutes, the dumplings came out first.

They’re stuffed and just plain delicious, so we’re happily eating when the makguksu arrives.

As soon as I got it, I tried the broth first, and the savory flavor was stronger than I expected, surprising me.

I never thought such a delicious place would be in a spot like this…

It’s so delicious that I immediately loosened the top and devoured the makguksu in no time.

Except for the kids exclaiming how delicious it is, all I hear is the sound of eating, so it seems they’re enjoying it a lot.

No matter how many times I think about it, why is such a delicious place in a spot like this…?

Anyway, after finishing the meal in no time, we drove for about 30 minutes to the valley.

After everyone got out, they must have prepared spare clothes because, except for their phones and other electronics, they ran into the valley in the light clothes they came in.

I wonder if that’s okay, but since they’re middle schoolers, it shouldn’t be a problem.

…Surely, there can’t be any crazy guys bothering kids like that.

“Rampage, aren’t you going to play with us?”

“I won’t. I’m the guardian and meal provider. Plus, I’m past the age to enjoy playing there.”

Even if guys play in the valley, all they do is float around like corpses in life jackets…

Wait, is that even playing?

Now that I think about it, is it just about going into the valley because we’re here?

…Well, if that’s what makes them happy, then it’s fine.

“Unnie~! Come play with us~!”

“Ah~…”

“You probably can’t refuse, right?”

“Shut up, Chubby…”

Damn it… At this age, I have to play with girls…

Well, I did prepare spare clothes in case we go into the valley, so it’s okay…

Sigh~… Pretty Heart asked me to play, so I can’t refuse.

“Okay, got it, got it.”

Where’s the life jacket… Let’s get in!

“…My feet don’t touch the ground. Is it that deep here?”

“No? It seems like it’s just you, unnie.”

“Ah…”

It’s because I’m short, so it’s awkwardly not touching.

At times like this, I really feel how short I am…

“Hey~.”

“…Why are you touching my butt?”

“It’s for confirmation. Nari has a firm butt~.”

“W-wait…?! You don’t need to say that!”

“I’m jealous~. Unnie’s is firm too~.”

“Stop touching.”

…These kids seem particularly weird.

No matter how close they are, girls don’t usually play like this, right?

Besides, saying my butt is firm… well, it has to be.

It’s a body maintained in top condition, after all.

“Nari. Are all kids like this these days?”

“Ah, no… It’s just Jin-ju and Na-ru…”

“Such embarrassing friends.”

“That’s too mean~!”

“What’s wrong with us~!”

No matter how close they are, touching someone’s butt like that is a bit… isn’t it embarrassing to show others?

These kids seem to have a slightly twisted way of thinking…

“When did they start being like this?”

“We’ve been friends since kindergarten… but when my chest started to grow… they started touching a lot…”

“…I see.”

“It’s Nari’s fault for being so well-endowed~.”

“Right, right.”

Ah~ So these kids have been doing this since elementary school?

If that’s the case, then I understand… no, they’re just plain weird.

“Sigh~…”

“Ah! Unnie is drifting away~!”

“Grab her~!”

“Uh, unnie…!!”

Ah~ Let’s just stop thinking and float around like this…